Student Life Committee

The remit of the Committee under the following core, agenda-aligned headings, is:

(a) Strategic development, planning, performance monitoring and resourcing: items for consideration and/or decision

i. To support implementation of the University Strategy relating to non-academic aspects of student life.

ii. To approve further strategies and associated action plans relating to non-academic aspects of student life.

iii. To monitor progress in relation to the implementation of related strategies and action plans (including the Sports Strategy, the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and the Sexual Violence Action Plan).

iv. To approve, in consultation with the relevant directors, the annual priorities relating to services provided for students.

v. To approve student-related Key Performance Indicators for core aspects of non-academic student life, and to consider regular reports on the performance and effectiveness of student-facing services and non-academic provision.

vi. To monitor ongoing developments relating to student-facing services and non-academic provision.

vii. To monitor data relating to non-academic student misconduct.

viii. To consider reports from YUSU and the GSA on plans and activities, including their Annual Reports.

ix. To approve and monitor the University’s approach to internal surveys of student opinion relating to non-academic aspects of student life, and to consider the findings of and proposed responses to internal and external surveys and benchmarking in this area.

x. To monitor external developments relating to non-academic aspects of student life and consider proposed responses to these developments.

xi. To review the adequacy of arrangements for the management and mitigation of corporate risk and specific risks relating to non-academic aspects of student life, and in particular in response to changes to the risk status and/or the effectiveness of risk controls (See Section 4.10 of the Risk Management Policy and Framework).

(b) Policy and regulatory matters

i. To approve policies, procedures and guidance relating to non-academic aspects of student life, in line with the University’s Scheme of Delegated Approvals.

ii. To recommend to Senate changes to the relevant aspects of the University’s regulatory framework.

Authority

On behalf of Senate, Student Life Committee is empowered to take decisions relating to non-academic aspects of student life and to seek assurance relating to the quality of these activities as set out under its remit. It can also make recommendations and/or refer items to Senate, UEB, UTC and other University committees as appropriate.

Student Life Committee has no direct budgetary control.

Ex officio members

Tom Banham, Interim Academic Registrar (Co-chair)
Lewis Parrey, Union Affairs Officer, York SU (Co-chair)
Dean of the York Graduate Research School
Nicola Campbell, Head of Conduct and Respect
Martin Crosby, Interim Deputy Director of Student Life and Wellbeing
Jill Ellis, Head of Student Support
Jonny Exon, Interim Head of College Life
Anne Haversham, Head of Open Door and Disability
Mary Haworth, Director, Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni
Professor Tracy Lightfoot, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students
Kirsty Lingstadt, Director of Student Life and Wellbeing
Dr Matthew Perry, Director, International Pathway College
Anna Reader, Head of Equality and Diversity
Freddy Russell, Community and Wellbeing Officer, York SU
Louise Thurston, Associate Director of Careers and Employability, Careers and Placements
Lisa Woods, Director of Accommodation, Campus and Commercial Services
Jen Wotherspoon, Deputy Director, Student Administration and Academic Affairs

Two student representatives from Colleges

Ella Manger-Webber, Anne Lister College
Sophie Lettington, Vanbrugh College

Four academic staff members appointed by Senate

Dr Jamie Buckland, Department of Philosophy (until July 2025)
Caroline Chaffer, School for Business and Society (until July 2025)
Professor Richard Waites, Department of Biology (until July 2026)
Dr Dawn Wood, Department of Computer Science (until July 2026)

Nominated by CITY College

Theofano Kyriakou, Director of Student Services and Alumni, CITY College
Ahmed El Fawal, CITY College Students' Union President

In attendance

Julia Hampshire and Gemma Wheeler, Student and Academic Services (Committee Secretary and Assistant Secretary)
Rachel Barber, Student Voice and Representation Director, York SU
Deb Ward, Head of Internal Communications and Engagement
Gianluca Tempesti, Director of Postgraduate Research (October meeting)
Claire Smith, Director of Postgraduate Research (February meeting)
James Parker, Project Officer, York Graduate Research School/ Kate Ball, Project Officer, Pro-Vice-Chancellor's Office

Constitution and membership

The majority of the committee’s members are appointed ex officio, including the co-chairs, academic leaders, representatives of professional services and student union sabbatical officers. Academic staff representatives are appointed by Senate. The committee also includes a nominee from CITY College.

Other membership considerations

Academic staff representatives should be drawn from each of the three Faculties, with no two members from the same department, and should between them have sufficient experience to be able to speak to staff interaction with students from a range of levels and modes of study.

Quoracy

50% of members, or 50% + 1 member where the number of members is not even. For the meeting to be quorate, at least one student representative should be present.

Membership review

Membership will be periodically reviewed by the Committee itself for Senate approval. Membership is otherwise coterminous with the individual’s appointment term. Gender balance and wider EDI considerations should be factored into the Committee’s reflection on its own size and composition.

2024-25

Date	Time	Venue	Paper deadline
Thursday 31 October	2.15pm	H/G21	Monday 21 October
Thursday 6 February	2.15pm	H/G21	Monday 27 January
Thursday 19 June	2.15pm	H/G21	Monday 9 June

Meetings are held a minimum of three times per year, with the facility to transact and record decisions by written resolution or, where necessary, Chair’s Action.

2023/24

2022/23

2021/22

2020/21

Student Life Committee reports to Senate:

Frequently: through summaries of the minutes of each of its meeting to the next Senate meeting;
Annually: via an annual assurance report and presentation on the quality of the non-academic student experience, including related non-academic support provided to students to enable them to succeed in and benefit from higher education;
Periodically: via other policies, reports, plans and progress updates which it reviews and/or recommends for Senate approval within the business cycle and its terms of reference.

Reporting to the Committee

College Life Forum provides a group for those involved in leading Colleges and those that are generally involved in College life at the University to discuss, share and consult upon important developments and changes that impact college life and college members.
The Student Mental Health Forum maintains operational oversight of provision for student wellbeing and mental health as it relates to student need, and holds operational responsibility for development and implementation of the University’s Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. It provides termly reports to Student Life Committee in the form of the minutes of its meetings, and is also empowered to submit other reports and/or proposals for endorsement or approval which may arise in the course of its business.
The Volunteering and Community Committee is not a formal subcommittee of Student Life Committee, but reports annually on its activity.
The Sports Strategy Group also reports to the Committee.